Racist graffiti spray-painted on trees in Vancouver park
The Vancouver Park Board says its staff is "heartbroken" after several trees in a city park were defaced with racist graffiti this weekend.
'Schitt's Creek' wins best TV comedy series at Golden Globes
"Schitt's Creek," the story of a once-wealthy family forced to relocate to a small town, was named best television comedy on Sunday at Hollywood's Golden Globe awards.
Story of 7-year-old girl selling lemonade to pay for brain surgery sparks outrage, empathy
The story of a 7-year-old girl from Alabama selling lemonade to help to pay for her own brain surgery has caused an uproar on the internet, with many calling it an indictment of the U.S. healthcare system.
Police warn of spike in catalytic converter thefts, which contain valuable metals
If your car has been sitting stationary during the pandemic, you might want to start checking on it, as across Canada, thefts of catalytic converters are on the rise, prized for the precious metals inside them.
WestJet to lay off undisclosed number of pilots amid labour negotiations
WestJet Airlines Ltd. says it is laying off an undisclosed number of pilots amid negotiations with the union that represents them.
'Terrible judgment': Vancouver police fine host of gender reveal party for breaking COVID-19 rules
Police say they have issued a $2,300 fine to the host of a gender reveal party in downtown Vancouver for violating the provincial health order banning gatherings.
International permanent residency holders running out of time to come to Canada
Immigrants waiting to come to Canada who have already received their permanent residency confirmation are running out of time before their visas expire, as COVID-19 travel restrictions stop them from flying into the country to begin their new lives.
Trump set to return to the spotlight with CPAC speech
Less than six weeks after leaving office, former U.S. President Donald Trump will deliver the closing speech at a conservative conference Sunday as he reasserts himself on the national stage and makes clear he intends to remain a dominant force within the Republican Party.
Police watchdog investigating after man fatally shot on First Nation near Tofino, B.C.
B.C.'s police watchdog has been called after Mounties shot and killed a man on a First Nation reserve off the West Coast of Vancouver Island Saturday night.
‘Worst thing I’ve seen this year’: White TikToker slammed for trying to ‘teach’ people how to Crip Walk in viral video
A white TikTok user is catching heat online after attempting to teach her followers how to Crip Walk. Created by the Crips street gang in the 1970s, the iconic dance move became a fixture in popular culture after being popularized by rappers from the West Coast. The TikTok user's rendition of the dance, which mostly involves intricate foot work, was widely ridiculed as it spread across social media. "They Have Gentrified the Crip Walk!" @wokevideo wrote on Twitter. "Don't be surprised when you see 'Licensed Crip …
Teens laugh off homophobic Karen who is verbally abusing them at Dollar Tree
A TikTok video featuring a homophobic "Karen" verbally abusing teens at a Florida Dollar Tree is going viral after teens recorded her tirade and "exposed" her online. The video starts with a woman getting inches from a teen's face and screaming homophobic slurs at him. It's unclear why they are arguing or why the woman is so upset in the first place. "Are you a queer?" she screams at the boy. "What are you? You like it up the a**hole? Cause you look like you like it up your a**hole." https:…
Cuomo asks state AG, top judge, to launch harassment probe
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has asked the state's attorney general and chief appeals court judge to jointly appoint an independent lawyer to investigate claims he sexually harassed at least two women who worked for him.
Viral TikTok shows couple getting engaged at friends’ wedding, sparking debate
There are a few things you don't do at weddings. You don't wear white if you're not the bride, you don't flirt with the groom, and most people would agree you don't get engaged at someone else's wedding. But a TikTok video of a man proposing in the middle of his friend's wedding reception is sparking debate online on whether this is the ultimate sign of friendship, or just tacky and rude. The groom, Laiven Bene, posted a video on his TikTok account, @laiivve, of the proposal that divided viewers. In the video, his…
Quebec reports 737 new COVID-19 cases in past 24 hours, nine more deaths
As many students in the province get set for Spring Break, Quebec reported that 737 more people have tested positive for COVID-19 bringing the overall total to 287,740 since the pandemic began.
Toronto Raptors' game against Chicago postponed due to COVID-19 cases
Tonight's Toronto Raptors game against Chicago has been postponed due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols.
Girl made TikTok of neighbor allegedly trying to force his way into her home moments before she was killed
A 9-year-old girl created a TikTok video featuring a neighbor pounding on the front door and yelling. He has been accused of killing the child. In the video, Felicia Kononchuk explains the man, 33-year-old Vasily Dunets, was knocking very loudly and for a long time, according to Yahoo News . “He has been standing here for several minutes, knocking and cursing. I'm scared!" she said, according to the outlet. The incident occurred in the Russian city of Chita on Feb. 17. She said that she and her brothers, aged 4 and 14, were home a…
More than 300,000 COVID-19 cases logged in Ontario since beginning of pandemic
Ontario is marking a grim milestone Sunday as health officials report that the province has logged more than 300,000 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began in January.
UN Human Rights Office says 18 dead in Myanmar crackdown
The U.N. Human Rights Office says it has received 'credible information' that a crackdown Sunday on anti-coup protesters in Myanmar has left at least 18 people dead and over 30 wounded.
No winning ticket for Saturday's $12 million Lotto 649 jackpot
No winning ticket was sold for the $12 million jackpot in Saturday night's Lotto 649 draw.
UN warns of mass famine in Yemen ahead of donor conference
A UN humanitarian agency on Sunday warned that more than 16 million people in Yemen would go hungry this year, with already some half a million people in the war-torn country living in famine-like conditions.
At bicoastal Golden Globes tonight, 'Borat' could triumph
The show, postponed two months from its usual early-January perch, will have little of what makes the Golden Globes one of the frothiest and glitziest events of the year. Due to the pandemic, there will be no parade of stars down the red carpet outside the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif.
Hong Kong detains 47 activists on subversion charges
Hong Kong police on Sunday detained 47 pro-democracy activists on charges of conspiracy to commit subversion under the city's national security law, in the largest mass charge against the semi-autonomous Chinese territory's opposition camp since the law came into effect last June.
'Time for patience is over': Sajjan vows action on culture change within Canadian Forces
Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan says he's committed to swift action on the promise of widespread culture change within the Canadian Armed Forces following allegations of misconduct against two top military officials.
Saudi Arabia says it intercepts missile attack over capital
Saudi Arabia said Saturday it intercepted a missile attack over its capital and bomb-laden drones targeting a southern province, the latest in a series of airborne assaults it has blamed on Yemen's rebel Houthis.
Emmanuel Acho replaces Chris Harrison as host of ‘The Bachelor’
Emmanuel Acho will temporarily replace long time ‘Bachelor’ host Chris Harrison amid controversy.
U.S. approves 1-dose Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine
The U.S. is getting a third vaccine to prevent COVID-19, as the Food and Drug Administration on Saturday cleared a Johnson and Johnson shot that works with just one dose instead of two.
Bitcoin uses more electricity than Argentina, Norway, study finds
As the price of bitcoin climbs, the environmental impact of the cryptocurrency may be cause for concern thanks to the energy used to harvest it.
Prince Edward Island reports six new COVID-19 cases, 'circuit breaker' starts Sunday
Prince Edward Island is introducing what it describes as new circuit-breaker measures to try and curb a recent spike in COVID-19 diagnoses.
Police and protesters: Tense situation outside Calgary city hall for COVID-19 rally
One of the biggest rallies of the pandemic took to the streets in downtown Calgary Saturday and the situation drew an equally large police presence.
Quebec marks one-year anniversary of first case by reporting 858 new COVID-19 infections
The novel coronavirus has been in Quebec for a year now, and the province has reported 287,003 positive COVID-19 cases and 10,385 deaths due to the disease since the start of the pandemic.
‘Just gross’: Fans are concerned after learning of age difference between Billie Eilish and her ex-boyfriend when they started dating
Some fans are accusing Billie Eilish's ex-boyfriend of grooming her after learning of their relationship in her new documentary Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry . Eilish confirmed for the first time via the documentary that she was in a relationship with Brandon Quention Adams, an artist who goes by "Q" but performs under the stage name 7:AMP. In the nearly two-and-a-half-hour film, which was released on Apple TV+ Friday, Adams is first introduced at one of Eilish's concerts in November of 2018 when she was 16 yea…
Ontario reports more than 1,100 new COVID-19 cases, 16 additional deaths
More than 1,100 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Ontario Saturday.
'We need this:' Getting COVID-19 vaccine to remote and urban Indigenous populations
The Assembly of First Nations says most Indigenous communities haven't received sufficient supplies of COVID-19 vaccines to extend doses to their off-reserve members. The National Association of Friendship Centres says there is no national vaccination plan for urban Indigenous people.
Quebec's second wave sends more Montreal children to hospitals with potentially deadly COVID-19-related immune syndrome
Specialists at Montreal’s two pediatric hospitals say a greater number of children are being admitted for treatment during Quebec’s second wave, with a rare but life-threatening condition that can develop several weeks after a child gets COVID-19.
A glimpse inside Canada's 'sinister' horse meat industry
W5 investigates Canada's controversial practice of flying live horses around the world to be slaughtered for fresh, raw, horsemeat. The campaign to stop the live horse export has ramped up with the celebrity endorsement of Canadian singer Jann Arden, who calls it the 'sinister side of agriculture.'
Death certificates don't accurately reflect the toll of the pandemic, experts say
The number of people who would have died from a COVID-19 infection is likely to be much higher than recorded because death certificates don't always list the virus as the cause of a fatality, experts say.
New climate pledges 'far short' of meeting Paris Agreement goals, UN warns
The planet is on 'red alert' because governments are failing to meet their climate change goals, the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said Friday.
What ‘WandaVision’ and ‘Doctor Strange’ say about magical gender roles
As Scarlet Witch embraces her reality-bending powers, WandaVision highlights a recurring contrast between male and female magic-users. While Wanda Maximoff's role is all about emotional upheaval and uncontrolled outbursts of power, her male counterpart (and future co-star ) Doctor Strange develops his magic through rigorous academic training. These gender roles are a common theme when portraying witches and wizards, buying into sexist frameworks while also—in this case, anyway—fueling a compelling journey for our female lead. Like Marve…
Kidnappers release Nigerian schoolboys as search for 300 abducted girls continue
Gunmen in Nigeria on Saturday released 27 teenage boys who were kidnapped from their school last week in the northern state of Niger, while security forces continued to search for more than 300 schoolgirls abducted in a nearby state.
Second World War plane flyby marks U.K. Capt. Tom Moore's funeral
A Second World War-era plane flew Saturday over the funeral service of Captain Sir Tom Moore, in honour of the veteran who single-handedly raised millions of pounds for Britain's health workers by walking laps in his backyard.
FBI identifies suspect in death of U.S. Capitol Police Officer, sources say
The FBI has identified a suspect it's focusing on in the death of U.S. Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, according to law enforcement officials.
New Zealand's largest city back in lockdown as COVID-19 lingers
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern ordered New Zealand's largest city back into lockdown on Saturday as COVID-19 cases continued to be detected in the community.
Canada's vaccine arsenal could get another addition within weeks: senior health official
On the heels of Health Canada's authorization of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, the Johnson & Johnson shot could join the country's arsenal within weeks, says Health Canada's Chief Medical Adviser Dr. Supriya Sharma.
House passes Biden's US$1.9 trillion COVID relief package
The U.S. House of Representatives voted early Saturday morning to approve President Joe Biden's US$1.9 trillion pandemic aid package, a major step toward enacting the first legislative priority of the new administration
Myanmar police deploy early to crank up pressure on protests
Police in Myanmar escalated their crackdown on demonstrators against this month's military takeover, deploying early and in force on Saturday as protesters sought to assemble in the country's two biggest cities and elsewhere.
New initiative will rate social media platforms based on how safe they are for LGBTQ2S+ users
A new initiative by the LGBTQ2S+ advocacy organization, GLAAD, plans to rate social media platforms based on how well they protect people from abuse.
L.A. firefighters relied on axe, luck to free Tiger Woods from crash
With short, sure strokes of a flathead axe, firefighter Cole Gomoll methodically chopped along the edge of the SUV's broken windshield as golf icon Tiger Woods -- tangled up in his seatbelt and covered in a sheet to avoid shards of glass -- waited in shock inside the mangled wreck.
Lady Gaga's stolen dogs recovered safely
Lady Gaga's two French bulldogs, which were stolen by thieves who shot and wounded the dogwalker, were recovered unharmed Friday, Los Angeles police said.
'A dream come true': Canadian company documents life in space
A Montreal-based company will be the first to chronicle a space walk from the International Space Station with a 360-dregree camera.
One-way shopping aisles can help reduce direct COVID-19 transmission, study suggests
New research based on mathematical models suggests one-way shopping aisles can be “highly effective” in reducing the rate of direct transmission for COVID-19.
400 escape, 25 dead after Haiti prison breakout: officials
Haitian authorities announced Friday that more than 400 inmates escaped and 25 people died in a prison breakout, making it the country's largest and deadliest one in a decade, with the prison director and a powerful gang leader among those killed.
Canada more than doubles COVID-19 vaccine distribution this week
Canada is seeing an upsurge in vaccines distributed across the country, with numbers making up more than double of what was allocated in the last two weeks.
Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine reduces transmission after one dose: U.K. study
A single dose of Pfizer and BioNtech's COVID-19 vaccine cuts the number of asymptomatic infections and could significantly reduce the risk of transmission of the virus, results of a U.K. study found on Friday.
McConnell says he'd support Trump if he wins 2024 nomination
Less than a month after excoriating Donald Trump in a blistering floor speech, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said Thursday that he would "absolutely" support the former president again if he secured the Republican nomination in 2024.
5 things to know for Friday, February 26, 2021
Canada has now administered the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to 3.19 per cent of the Canadian population.
Do you like to nap? Your DNA might have something to do with it, study says
A study published this month in the scientific journal Nature Communications suggests that while napping is a common activity, the frequency and duration of your midday naps may be connected to specific genes.
Doctors, caregivers push for in-home COVID-19 vaccinations for housebound seniors
A chorus of seniors and caregivers are pushing for in-home COVID-19 vaccinations lest thousands of vulnerable Canadians be left behind.
Boeing 777 makes emergency landing in Moscow: reports
Russian media report that a Boeing 777 plane made an emergency landing in Moscow in the early hours of Friday after the pilot reported a problem with the engine.
U.S. pandemic diplomacy continues with Blinken's Zoom meeting with Trudeau, Garneau
Antony Blinken will visit virtually with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Foreign Affairs Minister Marc Garneau as part of the Biden administration's post-Trump fence-mending campaign.
Prince Harry says he prefers The Crown to the 'toxic' British press
Prince Harry has said he stepped back from his royal duties because the 'toxic' British press had been destroying his mental health, adding he had not walked away from public service.
Georgia prosecutor investigating Trump call urges patience
The Georgia prosecutor investigating potential efforts by Donald Trump and others to influence last year's general election said this week that she's not sure where the investigation will go or how long it will take.
Head of Canada's largest pension plan received COVID-19 vaccine in Dubai: memo
The CEO of Canada's largest pension fund says in a memo to employees that he received a COVID-19 vaccination while on a 'very personal' trip to Dubai.
'We are not quite there': B.C. still not ready to ease restrictions, health officials say
Rising COVID-19 case numbers and an increasing test-positivity rate have quashed any hope of B.C. easing province-wide restrictions at the end of February.
'Total hell': PSW describes working through COVID-19 outbreak at Ont. long-term care home
A personal support worker at a long-term care home in Barrie, Ont. said dealing with one of the largest COVID-19 variant outbreaks in Canada was ‘total hell.’
TikToker allegedly killed her disabled sister, posted video a day before
A 14-year-old TikToker with a large following allegedly fatally stabbed her disabled sister in the neck while their parents slept. She posted a video to the platform just a day before the killing. Claire Miller called 911 early Monday morning after she allegedly stabbed her 19-year-old sister to death in Manheim, Pennsylvania, according to Lancaster Online. Her sister, Helen, reportedly had cerebral palsy and was wheelchair-bound. When officers arrived, Miller repeatedly said, “I killed my sister,” even pointing them to the room Helen was …
‘Kamala Harris is a man’: Video shows racist anti-masker blocking woman and daughter in parking lot
In a viral video posted on Twitter Wednesday, an unidentified woman yells at a mother and her Black daughter—and says that "Kamala Harris is a man." Rita, the woman who filmed the video, said the clip was taken in the parking lot outside of Nordstrom Rack in Orlando, Florida. The video starts mid-argument between Rita and another woman, who's not wearing a mask and is apparently blocking Rita's car. "Do you have anything else to say?" Rita says. "No, I don't. Put your mask on," the woman replies. &q…
Canada should invest in facilities to make vaccines for next pandemic, says Moderna co-founder
Canada should prepare for the next pandemic by investing in the necessary infrastructure to be able to produce vaccines domestically, says Canadian stem cell biologist and Moderna co-founder, Derrick Rossi.
Reinfections could be more likely among those with a mild first case of COVID-19: case study
Five seniors in a skilled nursing facility in Kentucky were reinfected with COVID-19 after recovering from a mild case of the coronavirus, suggesting that some people may be more at risk for reinfection, and even experiencing worse outcomes the second time.
Defence chief invited military members to come forward hours before stepping down
Hours before stepping down as Canada’s chief of defence staff, Admiral Art McDonald invited members of the Canadian Armed Forces to come forward if they have information about military misconduct, vowing to lead the culture change from inside.
Lexi's legacy: Family fights for better mental health access after losing daughter to suicide
A New Brunswick teen's family says better access to mental health care could have saved their daughter who died by suicide after two unsuccessful visits to a Fredericton hospital.
Brampton, Ont. parents charged after more than 100 kg of drugs found in luggage and child’s suitcase
Two Brampton parents have been charged after border officials allegedly found more than 100 kilograms of drugs hidden in their luggage and one of their children’s suitcases at Toronto Pearson airport earlier this month.
TikToker invites Tinder match’s wife to their date after finding out he’s married
A TikToker’s savage response to finding out her Tinder match is married with six kids is earning praise from spectators online. A TikToker named Nadiyah, spunky_brewstah on the platform, documented what transpired between her and the married Tinder match—from when she first matched with him to how she confronted him about his relationship status— in a video that has been viewed nearly 10,000 times since being posted to the platform on Tuesday. In a series of screenshots, Nadiyah reveals how she and her new Tinder match, “Eric,” hit it of…
Best Buy cuts 5,000 jobs, including 750 in Canada
Best Buy said Thursday that it laid off 5,000 full-time store workers earlier this month, even as the company's sales soared during the pandemic as homebound people bought laptops, TVs and other gadgets.
Family of former London, Ont. restaurateur looks for answers to violent death in Cuba
The family of the one-time owner of London's famous Seven Dwarfs restaurant is searching for answers two months after their father was allegedly murdered while on an extended vacation in Cuba.
In most big companies, no Black or Indigenous women on track for top jobs: survey
No Black or Indigenous women are on track for executive roles in many of the country’s biggest companies, according to the first national survey of its kind in Canada.
Ontario records more than 1,100 new COVID-19 cases, 23 deaths
Ontario is recording more than 1,100 new COVID-19 cases, as well as 23 more deaths linked to the disease.
Homeless teen on TikTok shows how he cooks his meals
A homeless teenager is blowing people away with his innovative way of preparing meals. @randomhomelessguy2 posted his first ever TikTok just over a day ago. Since then, he's collected more than 250,000 followers and 2.3 million likes on his page, despite it only hosting two videos. In both, the teen guides viewers through the process of preparing a meal without a kitchen, stove, or fridge. The first video, which has upwards of 8 million views, shows @randomhomelessguy2 preparing a surprisingly thorough meal, given his situation. He sets…
Marvel fans hate that the new ‘Blade’ movie will be PG-13
Marvel 's Blade reboot is one of the most hotly anticipated films in the MCU . Starring Oscar winner Mahershala Ali, it will be the first live-action version of the character since Wesley Snipes' iconic Blade trilogy. Considering the A-list casting, fans have high hopes for this reboot. But during a Marvel panel this week, producer Kevin Feige threw cold water on a widespread expectation for the film: The new Blade won't be rated R. Among other Marvel-related topics, Feige confirmed that Deadpool 3 is currently the only exce…
Baarack from the brink: Wild sheep rescued in Australia shorn of 35 kg fleece
A wild and ailing sheep found in a forest in Australia, named Baarack by rescuers, has yielded a fleece weighing more than 35 kilograms - nearly half the weight of an adult kangaroo - after being shorn for the first time in many a year.
Juergen Teller’s hideous ‘W Magazine’ celebrity photo shoot inspires tons of memes
What do we expect from a celebrity photo shoot? Glamour, maybe. Or an interesting image that tells us something about the subject's personality. That's why so many people are morbidly obsessed with a new W Magazine photo series by fashion photographer Juergen Teller: It takes gorgeous, beloved actors like Tessa Thompson and George Clooney and makes them look aggressively unphotogenic and awkward. To be clear, this isn't just a "celebrities in a casual setting" photo shoot. We've all seen that before. No. The issue…
This week in streaming: Let ‘Barb & Star Go to Vista Del Mar’ take you away
Hello! Every week, our internet culture staff will discuss the world of streaming entertainment in this newsletter. In this edition: Let Barb & Star Go to Vista Del Mar take you away Netflix’s I Care a Lot turns a grift into a thrill ride Nearly a year into the pandemic, COVID-19 has entered the festival circuit Sign up to receive this newsletter in your inbox . NOW STREAMING Let Barb & Star Go to Vista Del Mar take you away Last weekend I was scrolling Twitter, trying to find some mental balance after a stressful w…
Venmo wants to be an all-in-one bank—will it protect you like one?
Venmo now has direct deposit and check cashing features along with credit and debit cards. Its advertising is enticing, promising “paychecks can show up in your account up to two days earlier.” But given issues with Venmo’s security and integrity of its product in the past, you might not want to rush to sign up. The popular online payment system has been positioning itself as a fast and easy way to transfer money since its inception. However, by making it simultaneously quick and seemingly facile to move cash around, Venmo has also made it…
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